Headlines
Kano traders protest stalls demolition
Muktar Yahya Usman
Roadside traders along Abubakar Rimi Market Sabon Gari Kano set up bonfires Monday morning to protest the demolishing of their stalls by the Kano state government.
Kano Focus reports that a Kano state government committee on clearing illegal structures on walkways had demolished stalls along the Market walls in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The committee headed by Baffa Babba Dan Agundi Managing Director, Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has representatives from DSS, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB), among others.
One of the protesters Rabi’u Abdulhamid told Kano Focus that KAROTA operatives on Friday demolished their roadside tables and stalls which forced them to move back to the market pavement.
Kano Fire Service rescues 3 drowning persons
COVID-19: Kano CSOs yet to account for 22,000 facemasks
Danbatta set for Senate confirmation as screening committee lauds 5-year scorecard
“We thought they didn’t want us to trade on the road so we moved to the pavement and erected our stalls.
“However, KAROTA operatives returned under the leadership of Bappa Danagundi and demolished our stalls again.
“The most annoying thing is that they packed away all our belongings.” He lamented.
Another protester Saminu Abubakar wondered how their stalls could be called illegal when they had been paying taxes to the authorities.
“We pay tax every year through the market authority, and if you fail to pay, the market authority will seize your stall and stop you from doing business.
“We have paid this year’s rent and these are the receipts, but they just gave us less than 24 hours’ notice before demolishing our stalls.” He said.
Another protester, Abdulmuminu Salihu urged the government to refund the taxes and rent they had paid.
“We pay N20,000 to N30,000 per year and we have already paid for this year.
“So we have to protest to protect ourselves from the tyranny of KAROTA.”
However, Managing Director Abubakar Rimi Market Muhammad Uba Zubairu denied the claim that roadside traders pay rent to the market authority.
“We are not collecting any money from the roadside traders – neither rent nor taxes.
“They pay N25,000 to the shop owners that allow them to squat in front of their shops.
“The government charges N10,500 rent per shop but the shop owners charge N25,000 per roadside stall.
“However, that is a personal arrangement between them without anything going to the government.” Mr Zubairu said.
In a related development, KAROTA spokesperson Abubakar Nabilusi Kofar Na’isa stated that the Committee had given the roadside traders six months’ notice to vacate the premises or face demolition.
Mr Kofar Na’isa stated on Monday afternoon that successive Kano state administrations had offered to relocate the traders to Bompai, Bachirawa, and Rijiyar Zaki in the metropolis but they refused the offer.
He therefore warned the traders from “causing public disturbances” as KAROTA and security agencies will not tolerate that.
He however urged those whose property was carted away by the KAROTA operatives to report to the Sabon Gari Market police division.
Headlines
Kano govt cautions private schools against excessive fees
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The government has introduced new guidelines for fee increment.
Kano State Government has prohibited private and voluntary schools from arbitrarily increasing fees and forcing parents to purchase materials directly from the schools.
KANO FOCUS reports that Executive Secretary of the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institution’s Board( KSPVIB,) Comrade Baba Abubakar Umar, gave the warning in an interview with journalists.
The Executive Secretary said that some schools have been taking advantage of parents through hidden charges and exorbitant fees.
He said to address this issue, the board has introduced new guidelines.
According to him, “Schools must convene a Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) meeting to discuss any fee increments”.
He also stated that school must then write to the board seeking approval for the increase, attaching the attendance sheet from the PTA meeting.
He added that”At least two-thirds of parents must be present at the PTA meeting”
Comrade Abubakar dated that, the board has received complaints from parents who were charged excessive fees or amounts different from what was initially agreed upon.
He therefore disclosed that despite the current economic situation, schools must be realistic and fair in their charges.
“The board will work with relevant authorities to prosecute schools that operate illegally or evade taxes”
He however maintained that the board is committed to ensuring that schools provide safe learning environments and employ qualified teachers.
“Parents are encouraged to report any schools with substandard teaching or unsafe conditions”
Comrade Abubakar emphasised that, new census forms will be distributed to private and voluntary schools to ensure accurate data collection and effective monitoring. Saying that the board remains open to dialogue and discussions with schools willing to comply with the law.
He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his commitment to education, allocating 30% of the state’s budget to the sector and declaring a state of emergency.
Headlines
NEMA confirms 2 dead, others injured in building collapse
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that two people have died and two others were injured following the collapse of a two-storey building in Noman’s Land, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that the NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Officer, Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, said the agency received a distress call around 2:00 a.m. from a Good Samaritan about the building collapse.
Dr. Abdullahi stated, “The agency received a distress call today at about 2:00 a.m. from a Good Samaritan that a two-storey building collapsed in Noman’s Land Quarters, Kano.”
He further said, “Upon receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our rescue team to the scene.”
Dr. Abdullahi added, “Four persons were rescued by our team—a husband, wife, and two children. Unfortunately, the two children were confirmed dead, while the couple were rushed to the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, Kano, for treatment.”
The NEMA Coordinator also noted that search and rescue operations were still ongoing to find any persons trapped in the building.
Headlines
Kano indigenes top student loan applicants’ list
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano students from Kano are the top applicants of the student loan scheme, data from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has revealed.
KANO FOCUS reports that NELFUND, in a data chart posted via its official X handle, @nelfnigeria on Friday, highlighted the number of applicants per state of origin.
According to the data chart, students originally from Kano State topped the list of applicants with 17,122 applicants; Borno followed suit with 13,798 applicants while Benue had 11,754 applicants. The three states were the only states with over 11, 000 applicants.
The implementation of the student loan scheme is President Bola Tinubu’s flagship project in the education sector.
Barely a month after his inauguration as president, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, which creates a legal framework for granting loans to indigent or low-income Nigerians to facilitate the payment of their fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The law, reenacted earlier this year, created the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
NELFUND is saddled with the responsibility of handling all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.
The fund, according to the act, is to be funded from multiple streams and will engage in other productive activities.